Worries of going from a long bed to a short bed

[eldee]

Made a big leap yesterday and bought a 2014 Duramax! I'm real excited to get away from my 6.0 liter gas burner and start hauling with a more powerful motor. Old truck has a long bed on it and was never a problem with fiver hitting cab even on sharpest turns. I know already with a short bed, this can be a problem, but how big of a problem? My current hitch is a B&W turnover ball with the Companion hitch. How many out there haul with a similar rig and what is your current setup? Just looked at a video of a Sidewinder style king pin box, guess that's one option. Any and all comments welcome, thanks, Larry

[mileshuff]

laknox wrote:
EXACTLY! Even with a slider, you WILL hit when backing up; the slider just gives you more time before you DO hit.

Lyle

True but at least with my slider I can turn past 90 degrees before it will hit.

[transamz9]

I don't see how anyone gets backed into their sites with them long travel trailers without tearing the side out of their truck. They must stop before it happens and pull up or something........HUH.:S

[Coach-man]

Search for short bed PU & 5th wheel, there is a long history of people posting about "I can't understand why my 5th wheel broke my rear window"! Yes all short beds are not made equal, BUT all short beds have the potential to cause damage to the TV! BTW, I also run with a short bed, and a Pull Right 16K! One less thing I have to worry about!

[Dayle1]

No real need to have the pin forward of the axle. It will only add about 100 lbs to the front axle, nothing compared to the extra weight of the diesel motor. When backing you will be able to jack-knife sharper than a TT setup.

[jalichty]

I have a 2012 GMC D/A crew cab with a "standard" bed and tow our2012 FW with a Reese Slider and, so far, haven't hit the cab of the truck when towing or backing and haven't yet deployed the slider. I am not a very good backer so I watch very closely when backing to make sure I don't hit the truck. Usually, when I get to the point of almost hitting the truck, I am able to pull forward to straighten it out so the collision doesn't happen. I don't think you will have a problem with your set-up, but don't know whether or not your FW has the "rounded" corners that allow for a tighter turning radius. I know that with my older flat front FW, I used the slider a lot when backing.

[laknox]

Learjet wrote:

4bearhug wrote:
I tow with a 2015 Silverado 3500 w/ 6.5ft bed. I also use a B&W turnover ball w/ a Companion hitch. I've had no issues towing our 5er without a slider hitch. It all depends on where you camp and the nose on your 5er.

Bingo..another non-slider user, even with a slider or auto hitch you have limits and need to know them. 🙂

EXACTLY! Even with a slider, you WILL hit when backing up; the slider just gives you more time before you DO hit.

Lyle

[MFL]

I would not worry about having pin at axle center. I would start there, you can always move forward, when your limitations are more clear. GM standard beds have the longest axle to cab clearance.

I am 40"s pin center to cab, with no issues. It's like backing a TT, boat, snowmobile trailer, etc. You need to pay attention, be aware, or yes, any of these things will hit at some point.

You'll be able to back into most any site. Pulling forward at times, to lessen angle, then continue backing, works well for the tight spots.

Jerry

[filthy_beast]

I am towing with a 2008 Duramax with the 6.5 foot bed, which these days is considered a standard bed. (I know it isn't a 2014 Duramax but it is a GM, nudge, nudge, wink ,wink) I have a Reese manual slider, mainly because our subdivision is private and our roads are narrow. I needed the extra room to back into my driveway. I use my slider religiously whether I need it or not. I have seen too many posts that people do not use their slider until that one time when they turn too far and dent the cab or blow out the rear window because they didn't use it.

[eldee]

Thank you everyone for your replies! What I'm seeing here is that I will PROBABLY be all right in most situations, at least going forward, but could have problems backing up if I turn too tight. Diligence is the key to keep from having an accident that could crush my cab.
New turnover ball goes in on Friday, Companion hitch back in over the weekend, make my first test pull this weekend. I guess if I don't feel comfortable with that set up, time for a Companion slider?
Don't really like the idea, but I COULD set up my Companion hitch offset to the back as far as possible to gain a LITTLE more clearance. It's currently forward as far as possible to keep weight transferred in front of rear axle, moving it back might make it centered over axle, not necessarily a bad thing I suppose?
Any and all thoughts appreciated, Larry

[MinnCamper]

We have a 06 D/A short box with a 16K Husky slider and have never used it. Good insurance!

[Dayle1]

First, you cannot use the Sidewinder with the Companion hitch in it's standard configuration. The Sidewinder with it's wedge puts too much twist on the single mounting point of the Companion. In the past, B&W has OK'ed the combo if additional bolts are added at the 4 corners of the base to prevent twisting.

Otherwise, you don't need a slider if you can just pay attention (which should be every drivers goal). GM has the longest cab to axle distance. 90 degree turns at full steering wheel cut will not be a problem. Larger turns will be, but they can be problematic for sliders and 8 ft beds also. Generally, taking more time and jockeying back and forth can solve most problems. I don't use a slider and have used GM short beds for 25+ yrs. But then sliders weren't available 25 yrs ago, so there was no option except to pay attention.

[Learjet]

4bearhug wrote:
I tow with a 2015 Silverado 3500 w/ 6.5ft bed. I also use a B&W turnover ball w/ a Companion hitch. I've had no issues towing our 5er without a slider hitch. It all depends on where you camp and the nose on your 5er.

Bingo..another non-slider user, even with a slider or auto hitch you have limits and need to know them. 🙂

[4bearhug]

I tow with a 2015 Silverado 3500 w/ 6.5ft bed. I also use a B&W turnover ball w/ a Companion hitch. I've had no issues towing our 5er without a slider hitch. It all depends on where you camp and the nose on your 5er.

[Cdash]

The answer has more to do with how observant the OP is under pressure. The auto slider gives you more leeway. If he is a very diligent man, he may always be able to change the situation and avoid hitting without a slider.

Every truck + fiver + driver combination provides different results and opinions. Personally, I think it should be based mostly off driver comfort over anything else. Do you want to run the risk of being the guy that posts the picture of the cab dent and busted rear window? Chance of it happening are higher if you don't have a slider.

I've been running a Superglide for 9 years, no regrets. If I were doing it all over, it would be a tough choice between the Superglide and a sidewinder. But the Superglide will work with the Moreryde pin box, so that may sway it.

It's your decision, you have to decide what is best for you!